When Robby and Mat heard all the houses on The Block had the same layout, they cooked up a crazy idea to set them apart – build a secret underground wine cellar.

It’s already been labelled “the biggest gamble in Block history”.

While a great idea is a good place to start, the wine cellar will be nothing without approval and execution. Thankfully Foreman Dan had some cracking news for the boys.

Foreman Dan delivers some great news

There were a few hoops Robby and Mat had to jump through to get the tick of approval to dig out a giant hole for their wine cellar.

Foreman Dan began: “There’s three hurdles that we had to get ticked off, today alone we got two ticked off. The structural engineering of it, the second is the building surveyor he’s also said ‘Yep it’ll be allowed.’

“The third one that we’re waiting on is council for planning and I reckon we’ll probably get an answer within the next few days.”
This was the working plan for Robby and Mat’s underground wine cellar. (Nine)
With a cheeky grin on all their faces, Foreman Dan, Robby and Mat were hopeful they’d soon get the final check on their wine cellar.

As for the $100,000 the boys needs to win to fund their wine cellar? Well, that’s a problem for future Robby and Mat to solve.

Scotty tells the boys what he really thinks about the wine cellar

After hearing about Robby and Mat’s secret weapon, host Scott Cam paid the boys a visit.

“I’ve heard about the biggest gamble in Block history,” Scotty warned them.

“If you start this now, you roll the dice, you’re committed. You’ve dug a hole.”
Scotty thought it was a cracking idea – if the boys could pull it off. (Nine)
Robby and Mat originally thought to build the wine cellar out of a shipping container but quickly scrapped that idea after Scotty advised against it.

Scotty suggested the boys use an AFS walling solution that would mean they’d build walls and flooring from concrete.

No matter how they built it, Robby and Mat knew one thing for sure – they didn’t want any of the other teams finding out about their secret weapon.
Shhh my hair is full of secrets! (Nine)
“We’ve got a temp fence ready to go, so as soon as we get the OK we’re going to fence up so nobody can see it from McCafe, because there’s a good view straight into our yard,” Robby said.

“We’re going to keep it very secret.”

Scotty gave them an approving nod and thought they were onto a winner.
Robby and Mat aren’t here to be underestimated. (Nine)
“If we get this wine cellar approved, we could win The Block mate,” Robby excitedly told Mat.

“It’s a game-changer.”

Who are Robby and Mat?

Robby and Mat are best mates from South Australia and are the newest contestants of The Block.

Robby, 37, is a barber, business owner and first-time dad and Mat, 40, is a hairdresser and business owner.

When it comes to renovating, of the five couples on The Block this year the boys probably have the least experience. In fact, Mat has never even watched an episode of the show, much to Scott Cam’s bemusement. But that won’t deter them.
Robby and Mat both work in the hairstyling world. (Nine)
They have built businesses including hairdressing salons, so they know how to be project managers, and as we know, that is an invaluable skill on The Block.

The Block airs Sundays at 7pm and continues Monday to Wednesday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 7:00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Stream every episode ever of The Block for free on 9Now.